My son and I had a successful Glacier Peak climb June 29-July 2. Day 1 to White Pass. (9 hours). Day 2 to Glacier Gap. (7 hours). Day 3 — Climb and hike back to Foam Creek. (16 hours). Day 4 — Back to trailhead. (5 hours). These are all-in times with stops, meals and rests, and we hadn’t hiked this season at all before going. We took this trip last year and found the going easier this year by adding an extra day and breaking it up this way.
Trail to Mackinaw Shelter was brushed. Thank you! Some bugs but not too bad. 24 switchbacks from there make the next section steep and long. Camps at white pass and glacier gap nice and open. Water available all the way to glacier gap so you can save some weight by not carrying too much.
I did not appreciate the Mountaineer leader who told my son (not me) to “turn back” 30 minutes from Glacier Gap as his team was coming down. Yes, we understood that a thunderstorm, with possible lightning, was coming. That’s why we were hustling. While a saddle is not the best place to camp for lightning, we understood that too. We accepted the risk and set up camp before a brief shower started. You hiked with your Mountaineer team across an equally exposed, high basin and got drenched while we napped. Please — Freedom of the Hills, baby.
Glad we didn’t turn back. July 1 was a a gloriously clear day and we were the only folks to summit, or who were even on the mountain that day. We are grateful.
We hope you have a chance to experience Glacier Peak.
Comments
I had that exact thing happen to me on the Brothers! I got so mad I filed a complaint with headquarters. As a scrabbling and climbing grad and current member I really didn't appreciate being scolded for being on the mountain with my husband where we chose to go only the two of us and bivy at 5800'. So what. Anyway, you can see it still hits a nerve. Congrats on your summit. We're looking forward to climbing it this fall.
Posted by:
NiksterD on Jul 22, 2019 09:52 PM